CFF 2017 Rankings -- 50-46

CFF 2017 Rankings -- 55-51

  

   COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOCUS

       2017 TOP 60 RANKINGS

 It isn’t always easy, determining (read that as guessing) who will have the best teams in college football. Last year we had two of the four playoff teams, but all four of the CFP teams were in our top six, including Washington at 4 – the only publication that had the Huskies making the playoffs. A number of factors go into these rankings – talent, experience, strength of schedule. It’s up to us to figure out which are the most important, and rank  the teams accordingly. One note – this is how we see the teams finishing up the end of the season, not who has the strongest bunch heading into the year. If we did it that way, Alabama or Ohio State would be 1-2 every single season.

 We will unveil five teams per day, until we reach the top 10, at which point we will release 10-5 on one day and the College Football Playoff participants the final day. Today we bring you teams 55-51.

51. Minnesota (9-4) -- A whole lot of coaching transition -- most notably head coach P.J. Fleck, who comes over from Western Michigan -- means the Gophers have turned the page on the Tracy Claeys era (who knew there was such a thing?) -- even though it was a pretty successful one. Fleck took Western Michigan to the Cotton Bowl last year and was respectable against Wisconsin, so now we will see if his enthusiasm plays as well in the Twin Cities. A solid ground game, led by Rodney Smith, and a grudging defense (22.1 ppg) will be the Gophers calling cards, but you Fleck will want to put his offensive stamp on things. That means maybe a little more passing than expected, even with a new quarterback. Michigan and Northwestern on the road will be challenging, but the Gophers could once again flirt with nine victories. If they do that, then everyone will know that the boat is rowing in the right direction. FAST FACT -- The Gophers recovered a nation's-best 16 fumbles in 2016.

Zach Abey (Getty Images)

52. Navy (9-5) -- Houston and South Florida may have generated more headlines the past two seasons, but the Middies are the ones with back-to-back division titles. It could be a bit more difficult to make it three straight with a schedule that includes jaunts to Memphis, Temple and Houston, but given the adversity the Middies faced last season -- 102 missed games by starters/regulars -- nothing is impossible. There is experience on offense, though QB Zach Abey, who started the final two games last year, is young. How he does as a full-time starter bears watching. LB D.J. Palmore led the team in sacks (6) and tackles for loss (11.5), and is the emotional leader for a unit that returns six starters. FAST FACT -- Navy's victory over Houston last season was its first over a top 10 opponent since 1984.

53. Miami (Ohio) (6-7) -- Momentum may or may not mean anything, but if it does then watch out for the RedHawks. Miami won its final six contests before dropping a one-point bowl decision, and is flush with optimism for a team that is the most experienced in the MAC, and third nationally. Dual threat QB Gus Ragland was a big part of the late season success, and he has the controls to himself now. The corner tandem of Heath Harding (11 PBU, 4 INT) and Deondre Daniels (6 PBU) is one of the best around. A late September road trip to Notre Dame should show the nation what kind of mettle Miami, a real contender for the league crown, has. FAST FACT -- The RedHawks became the first team in NCAA history to open 0-6 and finish 6-0.

54. Michigan State (3-9) -- Crash and burn is a term thrown around all the time, but it is a perfect description of what happened to the Spartans last season. After three straight seasons of double-digit wins, MSU couldn't get out of its own way in 2016. Offseason turmoil (players kicked off the team in the wake of a sexual assault investigation) hasn't allowed for a smooth summer, and questions about the overall talent still loom. RB L.J. Scott is one of the few keepers, however, gaining 994 yards and scoring six times. He should have a more pronounced role as the offense breaks in a new quarterback. Normally strong, the defense allowed 27.8 ppg last year and generated almost no pressure on opposing quarterbacks -- and lost Malik McDowell to the NFL Draft. This ranking is pretty much based on the belief that Mark Dantonio will get things going again, but there is not a lot of faith in the talent currently on the roster. MSU will need to play over its head to really challenge for the division, and will likely be satisfied with a return to the postseason and respectability. Trips to Michigan and Ohio State won't make that very easy. FAST FACT -- The Spartans had just 11 sacks in 2016, ranking 124th of 127 teams nationally.

Nick Stevens (The Coloradoan)

55. Colorado State (7-6) -- The Rams weren't far from a really solid season last year, losing by five at Boise State and by a field goal at Air Force. Being the most experienced squad in the Mountain West could reverse their fortunes, as could an offense that averaged 35.3 ppg a year ago and returns QB Nick Stevens, the conference leader in passing efficiency (171.3). CSU will have a brand-spanking new stadium to brag about, and opens against Oregon State, which will not be a pushover. It also faces Colorado in Denver and travels to Alabama, but gets Boise State at home in the season's penultimate weekend. FAST FACT -- The Rams 37-0 victory over Fresno State was their first shutout since 1997.

 We will be back tomorrow with teams 50-46.

 Here are teams ranked 60-56

CFF 2017 Rankings -- 60-56

       
     COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOCUS

           2017 TOP 60 RANKINGS

 It isn’t always easy, determining (read that as guessing) who will have the best teams in college football. Last year we had two of the four playoff teams, but all four of the CFP teams were in our top six, including Washington at 4 – the only publication that had the Huskies making the playoffs. A number of factors go into these rankings – talent, experience, strength of schedule. It’s up to us to figure out which are the most important, and rank  the teams accordingly. One note – this is how we see the teams finishing up the end of the season, not who has the strongest bunch heading into the year. If we did it that way, Alabama or Ohio State would be 1-2 every single season.

 We will unveil five teams per day, until we reach the top 10, at which point we will release 10-5 on one day and the College Football Playoff participants the final day.

Jordan Chunn (Troy Messenger)

56. Troy (10-3) -- The Trojans engineered one of the top turnaround stories in college football last year, going from four wins to 10. Now we'll see what happens when expectations are added. The offense should be good, with QB Brandon Silvers and RB Jordan Chunn, but the defense needs to find some replacements as six starters return, but they lose five of their top seven tacklers. Road contests with Boise State and LSU will play a big role in the type of season Troy has. FAST FACT -- Troy returns 98.7 percent of its total yards from last season, tops nationally.

57. Arkansas (7-6) -- Bret Bielema hopes history repeats as he heads into his fifth season in Fayetteville. Bielema broke through at Wisconsin by winning 11 games in his fifth season, but if he's going to do the same with Arkansas he'll have to navigate an October that features road games against South Carolina, Alabama and Ole Miss, and a home clash with Auburn. Moving to the 3-4 could make an athletic defense better, and Rawleigh Williams (1,360 yards, 12 TD) is one of the better backs in the SEC. QB Austin Allen has a big-time arm but needs to find dependable receivers. FAST FACT -- Razorbacks allowed 41.8 ppg in six losses last year, allowing six foes to score 35 points or more.

58. Iowa (8-5) -- Maybe the Hawkeyes do what they always do in years there is no expectation -- surprise. There isn't much punch in the Iowa passing attack, but that may not matter as it has RB Akrum Wadley (1,081 yards, 6.4 ypc) , one of the quietest best players in the country. End Anthony Nelson (6 sacks) and linebacker Josey Jewell (124 tackles) anchor a defense that was grudging against the run (140 ypg, 10 TDs). The schedule isn't exactly favorable, with a tricky opener against Wyoming and a final month of the Big Ten season that has the Hawkeyes going to Wisconsin and Nebraska and hosting Ohio State. FAST FACT -- The Hawkeyes have experience up front, with 99 starts from its offensive line (seventh best nationally).

Donnie Miles (Getty Images)

59. North Carolina (8-5) -- The Tar Heels had a potent offense last season, but might need to rely more on defense after losing its quarterback, top two rushers and top two pass catchers. We would feel better about QB if it wasn't Brandon Harris, who was largely ineffective in his time at LSU. Austin Proehl is back at receiver, and he's solid if unspectacular. Defensively, safety Donnie Miles netted 102 tackles, but the biggest loss could be coordinator Gene Chizik, who stepped away from coaching to devote more time to family. If North Carolina can't do better against the run (227.3 ypg) this year, fans will start counting the days until basketball season begins. FAST FACT -- The Tar Heels had just one interception all of last year, and none against FBS competition (The Citadel).

60.  Army West Point (8-5) -- After years of being a punching bag for Navy, the Cadets finally exorcised their demons, beating Navy for the first time since 2001. Army went from two wins to eight, and could be in line for another solid season as it returns the bulk of its squad. It all starts with QB Ahmad Bradshaw, who ran for 824 yards and passed for 703, with 12 total touchdowns. The squad's top nine rushers return, the defense is stout, and there's a vibe emanating that hasn't been there in ages. A road trip to Ohio State is the only contest in which the Cadets should be a decided underdog, so things are trending the right way for Jeff Monken and his crew. FAST FACT -- The Cadets' 46 rushing touchdowns broke by one a school record held by the 1945 national championship Army team.

College Football Focus 2017 FCS Preview

 You can bet that North Dakota State has been seething, wondering what it could have done differently to reverse the outcome of its 27-17 semifinal loss to eventual national champion James Madison. The Bison had won five straight national titles and were looking to once again assert their dominance over the rest of FCS football.

 But the Dukes had other ideas, and went on to beat unlikely finalist Youngstown State 28-14, winning its first national title since 2004.

 Both NDSU and James Madison will be squarely in the mix in 2017, but the loss by the Bison shows that maybe the gap between the best and "the others" isn't quite as large as perceived.

 Here is College Football Focus' 2017 FCS top 10:

NDSU's Tre Dempsey

 1. North Dakota State (12-2 in 2016) -- The Bison welcome back 16 starters, including a host of defensive stars, notably safety Tre Dempsey, linebacker Nick DeLuca and end Greg Menard, which means they once again should be lethal. Quarterback Easton Stick is back, as is wideout Darius Shepherd, which makes NDSU the favorite a seventh consecutive Missouri Valley title -- and maybe to begin a new national championship streak.

 2. James Madison (14-1) -- As long as the Dukes have quarterback Bryan Schor -- and they will through this, his senior, year -- they have a shot to repeat. The backfield is deep, and gains the services of former Georgia Tech runner Marcus Marshall. The Dukes will be challenged with a season opening trip to East Carolina, but that's a winnable game. The best CAA teams must venture to Harrisonburg.

 3. Sam Houston State (12-1) -- The Bearkats were another team knocked off by James Madison in the playoffs, to the tune of 65-7. The sting of that loss has driven quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe (57 TD passes in 2016) to be even better this year, which is a frightening thought. He has a strong group of receivers, led by Yedidiah Louis, and a nice ground attack. The defense is rebuilding, but the Bearkats are still the class of the Southland.

 4. South Dakota State (9-4) -- Look for footballs to be flying around Brookings, S.D., as the Jackrabbits possess a wealth of pass-catching talent. Quarterback Taryn Christian was MVC player of the year, and he has NFL prospects in tight end Dallas Goedert and wideout Jake Wieneke, who combined for 170 catches and 27 scores a year ago. The defense has a few holes, but South Dakota State may just take the "let's outscore everyone" approach on the road to success.

 5. Richmond (10-4) -- The Spiders have reached back into their history books to grab first year coach Russ Huesman, the defensive coordinator on their last national title team in 2008, from Chattanooga. Quarterback Kyle Lauletta returns, as does running back Deontez Thompson, who gained over 1,000 yards last season as a redshirt freshman. The defense is rebuilding, but Richmond should be the primary obstacle to James Madison in the CAA.

 6. Villanova (9-4) -- The Wildcats also have a new coach, bumping up longtime assistant Mark Ferrante. Villanova does it with defense (nation's-best 15 ppg) and returns safety Rob Rolle, who pilfered seven passes a year ago. Aaron Forbes and Matt Gudzyk could be the best 1-2 running punch in FCS.

 7. Eastern Washington (12-2) --The Eagles return 14 starters from last year, most notably quarterback Gage Gubrud, who set a single-season FCS record by throwing for 5,160 yards, with 48 TD. Jay-Tee Tiuli provides some bulk (6-4, 315) up front for the defense.

EWU's Gage Gubrud (Getty Images)

 8. Jacksonville State (10-2) -- The Gamecocks return a wealth of talent -- nine first- or second-team all-conference players -- but one who is gone is quarterback Eli Jenkins, the OVC offensive player of the year. Look for running back Roc Thomas (formerly Auburn) to become more of a focal point. The defense allowed just 18.3 ppg and returns NFL prospect Darius Jackson at end. He netted 10 sacks and 15.5 TFL last year.

 9. Chattanooga (9-4) -- The Mocs went to Division III and nabbed uber-successful John Carroll boss Tom Arth to run the show, and he gets back exciting quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, who threw 26 TD passes last season. Chattanooga loses 13 starters, but one of the returnees is senior defensive back Lucas Webb, who had nine pass break ups and has been all-conference in each of his first three seasons.

10. Wofford (10-4) -- Defense will be the buzzword in Spartanburg, S.C. as the Terriers bring back eight starters from a crew that allowed just 17.1. ppg and just over 101 yards rushing per game a year ago. Tyler Vaughn had eight sacks and 17.5 TFL, while offensively, senior quarterback Brandon Goodson is one of six starters returning.

Look Out For -- North Dakota (9-3); Lehigh (9-3); New Hampshire (8-5); Penn (7-3); Weber State (7-5); Charleston Southern (7-4); North Carolina A&T (9-3); Youngstown State (12-4); Fordham (8-3); San Diego (10-2)

FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Jeremiah Briscoe/Sam Houston State
RB Chase Edmonds/Fordham
RB Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks/Albany
FB Joe Protheroe/Cal Poly
WR Jake Wieneke/South Dakota State
WR Justin Watson/Penn
TE Dallas Goedert/South Dakota State
OL Ben Huss/Duquesne
OL Justin Lea/Jacksonville State
OL Timon Parris/Stony Brook
OL Aaron Stinnie/James Madison
OL Stockton Mallet/Central Arkansas

DEFENSE
DL P.J. Hall/Sam Houston State
DL Darius Jackson/Jacksonville State
DL Pat Afriyie/Colgate
DL Miles Brown/Wofford
LB Dale Warren/Chattanooga
LB Darius Leonard/South Carolina State
LB Brett Taylor/Western Illinois
DB Mike Basile/Monmouth
DB Cole Reyes/North Dakota
DB Tre Dempsey/North Dakota State
DB Davontae Harris/Illinois State

SPECIALISTS
 K   Griffin Trau/Richmond
 P    Ian Berryman/Western Carolina
KR  Shane Simpson/Towson
PR  Terry Wallen/Drake